SOCHI SCENE: 'Close to that edge'

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SOCHI, Russia (AP) — The spills and injuries during ski and snowboard events at the Sochi Games come because of athletes pushing hard, not because of course conditions, the head of the International Ski Federation says.

Sarah Lewis, the governing body's secretary general, told reporters Friday that the injuries are simply a hazard of competition for events like giant slalom and downhill racing, slopestyle and ski cross.

"The margins that exist in these sports in terms of producing a spectacular performance, the fastest or the greatest tricks — they are very, very close between failing and succeeding," Lewis said. "In order to win an Olympic medal you absolutely want to try to be as close to that edge as possible."

Some athletes have complained of soft snow and warm weather leading to less than ideal conditions.

— By Oskar Garcia — Twitter http://twitter.com/oskargarcia

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Associated Press reporters are filing dispatches about happenings in and around Sochi during the 2014 Winter Games. Follow AP journalists covering the Olympics on Twitter: http://apne.ws/1c3WMiu